Chapter 247: Evening
Like any other day, after finishing training and safely seeing a somewhat reluctant Satsuki back to the Uchiha clan grounds, Naruto walked alone toward his apartment.
The Konoha streets at this hour were at their busiest during evening. Pedestrians crowded the walkways as ninja finishing missions gathered in twos and threes heading to izakayas and BBQ restaurants. Warm light spilled from shop windows, children chased each other in open spaces, and the entire village was wrapped in an atmosphere of tranquility filled with daily life.
Also as usual, during the latter half of training when Naruto was developing jutsu himself, Jiraiya had used "urgent business" as an excuse to slip away early. By now, he was probably somewhere in a tavern, cheerfully drinking with a few newly-acquainted "female friends," thoroughly intoxicated.
Naruto had long grown accustomed to his future teacher's unreliable behavior.
As he passed through a quieter street, his attention was caught by a scene ahead. Several children, looking around five years old, were gathered beneath a tree, tilting their small faces upward helplessly at a red balloon caught between branches, their expressions filled with anxiety.
This scene was practically a classic textbook illustration for teaching "helping others is a virtue"... Naruto silently complained internally, but his feet still carried him over.
Under the children's astonished gazes, he simply leaped lightly, effortlessly retrieving the balloon from the treetop.
"Here, hold it tight," he handed the balloon over.
The children, having recovered their lost-and-found treasure, suddenly brightened as they looked at Naruto, their eyes shining with pure gratitude and admiration, chorusing: "Thank you, ninja big brother!"
Naruto's face naturally displayed a gentle smile as he prepared to respond with "no need to thank me"—
"Kiyo! Come here quickly!"
An urgent, clearly anxious shout cut him off. Several nearby adults who had been chatting apparently noticed the interaction, immediately rushed over, and without hesitation scooped up the child thanking Naruto, holding him tightly in their arms. From their demeanor, they had apparently been so engrossed chatting with acquaintances that they'd temporarily left their child to play.
The parents completely ignored the confused and bewildered gazes the children directed at them. Their eyes collectively fixed on Naruto, filled with barely concealed wariness, apprehension, and even a trace of fear.
They said nothing, simply held their children and turned rapidly, disappearing around the street corner as if fleeing something ominous.
Here we go again...
Naruto slowly lowered his extended hand as the smile faded from his face. He had long grown accustomed to this treatment. He even wryly joked internally that today's few were relatively "polite"—at least they silently left without, like some people, deliberately lowering their voices before departing, muttering hateful words like "monster" or "demon fox."
"Sorry miss, don't leave! Your generosity... uh... is truly as vast as mountains!"
"I've told you I'm not that kind of woman! Get lost, you old pervert!"
Followed by a crisp "slap!" sound, apparently someone had received a solid hit. The lewd voice sounded vaguely familiar. Tracing the sound, Naruto spotted an angry woman hurrying away, leaving behind a white-haired figure clutching his face, reeking of alcohol, staggering—Jiraiya.
"This old fool..."
Naruto couldn't help but press his forehead in exasperation. He saw Jiraiya with glazed eyes, cheeks flushed with drunkenness, his entire body swaying, about to collapse at any moment.
"Oh! It's Naruto!" Jiraiya recognized him with squinted eyes, releasing a loud drunken belch. "Training... finished? Hehehehe, even with your exceptional talent... you can't... slack off! Or... I might... reconsider... taking you as a disciple!"
Clearly delirious drunk talk. Naruto quickly stepped forward, catching Jiraiya just as he was about to fall. Though this man was unreliable, Naruto certainly couldn't leave him lying in the street.
"Yes, yes, I know. Let's go, Pervy Sage," Naruto said helplessly, hooking one of Jiraiya's arms over his shoulder, supporting his heavy weight as he shuffled toward his small apartment.
Jiraiya practically transferred all his body weight onto Naruto, staggering along while slurring indecipherable drunk rambling, occasionally bursting into off-key song snippets, sometimes boasting about his past "glorious deeds."
Naruto could only awkwardly support him while occasionally murmuring "mm" and "oh" in acknowledgment. Smelling the heavy alcohol stench and feeling the difficulty of supporting a drunk, Naruto privately congratulated himself—deciding not to learn drinking was definitely a wise choice.
"Naruto... you kid... hic... your strength is strong enough, but you're still too green! Lacking experience..." Jiraiya slumped against Naruto's shoulder, drunkenly waving his other hand. "You know! I... once traded blows with that being called the 'demigod' Hanzo the Salamander! Truly a legendary ninja!"
"Yes, yes, you're the greatest," Naruto replied helplessly while steadying their swaying forms.
"And... those who wanted to become my disciples could line up from the village gates to the Hokage Monument! You kid... don't be ungrateful!" Jiraiya continued boasting loudly, his tone suddenly carrying a barely perceptible sadness and pride. "Do you know who my previous disciple was? That would be... the famous Fourth Hokage!"
"Yes, yes, I know."
This way, listening to Jiraiya's incoherent drunken rambling, Naruto finally managed to half-carry, half-drag him back to his small apartment. There was nothing else to do—he had no idea where Jiraiya was currently staying in Konoha.
After settling the heavy Jiraiya on his modest bed, removing his shoes and tucking him in, Jiraiya mumbled incomprehensible sleep-talk against the pillow before immediately filling the room with loud snoring.
Looks like I'm sleeping on the floor tonight. Naruto quietly tidied up the room, carefully relocating the Pokémon egg to a more stable corner. Having already eaten dinner at Satsuki's place, after washing up, he was ready to rest.
Changing into clean pajamas, he settled into his bedding, hugging the small cat plushie wearing a miniature Uchiha clan outfit that Satsuki had given him.
Accompanied by the rhythmic snoring from the bed beside him, Naruto slowly closed his eyes and drifted into slumber.
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